Harris Enjoys a Narrow Lead in Nevada as the Presidential Race Heats Up

Vice President Kamala Harris has pulled ahead in Nevada’s closely contested race, leading former President Donald Trump by a slim margin, according to the latest polling by Emerson College, KLAS, and The Hill. Harris took 48.1% of the vote, while Trump trails closely behind with 47.3%. With less than four weeks remaining before the election, 0.9% chose “None of these candidates,” while 2.7% were undecided.

Votes from Nevada Could Prove Pivotal
Harris’s recent visit to Nevada in September helped her garner support. She spoke before Nevadans at the World Market Center in Las Vegas, emphasizing her commitment to middle and working-class families. Meanwhile, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard held a rally in support of Trump, voicing discontent with the Democratic Party and faith in Trump’s abilities.

Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, cautioned that the race in Nevada was still too close to call, with both candidates locked in a tie since Harris had joined the race, replacing President Joe Biden. While she has enjoyed a consistent lead over her opponent, the survey author warns that the results are within the margin of error.

With the race still deadlocked and just under four weeks to go, it remains too close to call in key swing states, all within the margin of error.

Spencer Kimball, Emerson College Polling executive director
Nevada ranks as the second most contested swing state, with only Michigan showing a narrower gap between the candidates. In Michigan, Harris leads by an even smaller margin: 49.2% to Trump’s 49.0%. Trump leads in the remaining swing states, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Even so, in six of the seven swing states—North Carolina being the exception—voters believe Harris will win in November.

Nevadans Are Concerned About the Economy, Housing and Immigration
The poll surveyed 900 voters between 5-9 October who said they were “very likely: to vote in the November election. The results uncovered several intriguing trends, like a clear gender divide. The poll shows men favoring Trump by a margin of 52% to 43%, while women back Harris by 53% to 43%.

The economy remains the top issue for Nevada voters, with 36.4% identifying it as their primary concern, followed by affordable housing (15.0%), immigration (12.5%), and threats to democracy (10.8%). Abortion rights also emerged as a pressing issue, with 54.6% supporting Question 6, a proposed constitutional amendment that would guarantee the right to abortion up until fetal viability, typically around 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Harris notably commands a lead among undecided voters in Nevada, with 41.1% leaning in her favor to Trump’s 29.4%. The state has seen varied efforts by both parties, with a 43-foot-tall naked statue of Donald Trump recently gracing Interstate 15 in Las Vegas. While the effectiveness of this particular installation remains debatable, the coming weeks may prove pivotal in the heated presidential race.